After three seasons with SR Motoblouz Honda, Kevin Horgmo is set for a fresh chapter in his MXGP career as he joins the ambitious ZXMOTO project for 2027. The Norwegian will become part of history as the Chinese manufacturer make their debut in the MXGP World Championship, with Jacky Martens leading the team and a new challenge awaiting.
Following a difficult 2026 campaign that was interrupted by injury, Horgmo is eager to get back to his best and take on the challenge of racing for a brand-new manufacturer. With a move of his base back to Lommel, Belgium, also on the cards, the 26-year-old is looking to rediscover his sand riding form while playing a role in the team’s maiden season in the premier class.
In this exclusive interview, Horgmo reflects on his 2026 season, discusses his departure from SR Motoblouz Honda, explains how the ZXMOTO opportunity came about, and outlines his ambitions for the 2027 season.
GateDrop: Kevin, let’s start with 2026 – not your best season but not a disaster either! You were still close to being top ten in the championship before your injury – how would you reflect on it? I am sure it is a season you can learn a lot from!
Horgmo: Yeah, it was definitely not the season I was hoping for. After finishing eighth in my rookie MXGP season and having some standout rides in 2025, I hoped to build on that. Instead, I struggled quite a lot with consistency.
I feel like I took a step backwards, especially after some issues with sickness during the winter. When you start the season underperforming, it’s difficult to catch up. But in the second half of the season, I started showing what I’m capable of again. I’ve learned a lot this year, and hopefully I can take those lessons into 2027 and get back to my level before taking the next step.
GateDrop: Your time comes to an end with the SR Motoblouz Honda team after three seasons – they’re set to get more HRC support next year – partly due to your good results! I am sure you were disappointed when you found out you wouldn’t be staying?
Horgmo: I’ve spent three years with the team, and we’ve had a lot of good results together. We can be proud of what we’ve accomplished. I have a lot of good memories and I’m grateful for the opportunity they gave me when I first moved into MXGP. But now I’m excited to start this new chapter with ZXMOTO.
GateDrop: ZXMOTO, tell me more! How did the opportunity all come around? I think you only signed with them today (3rd of November), right?
Horgmo: We’ve been in touch for some time. Initially, they wanted me to test the bike, but unfortunately that wasn’t possible because of my injury.
The project caught my interest from the beginning. Every time I spoke with Jacky and learned more about their plans, I became more interested. I also visited the workshop and saw the bike in person, which gave me a really good impression.
Over the past week, things started moving quickly as we worked towards an agreement that suited both sides. I’m happy we’ve managed to reach an agreement, and I can’t wait to get started!
GateDrop: You will be part of history as being part of ZXMOTO during their first season in the MXGP paddock, it’s pretty cool to be part of that story with them being the first Chinese manufacture…
Horgmo: Yeah, I’m really proud of that! It’s pretty cool to join a completely new manufacturer. China is a huge market, and it’s an exciting opportunity to help bring ZXMOTO into MXGP. What makes it special is being able to help build something from the beginning. Hopefully, in a few years, we can look back and be proud of what we’ve achieved. It would be cool to make some history!
GateDrop: You are currently recovering form an injury, so I want to know if you tested the bike before signing?
Horgmo: No, unfortunately I haven’t tested the bike yet. I’m still in a cast and focusing on recovering 100% from my wrist injury. The original plan was to test it first, but that hasn’t been possible. I’m confident the team will do everything possible to get me comfortable on the bike and prepare for next season in the best possible way.
GateDrop: Did you have many other offers for MXGP?
Horgmo: There were some other possibilities, but this project caught my interest from the beginning. I wanted to see what they could offer, so I held off on making decisions about other opportunities until quite late.
I also had some inquiries about national championships, but my priority was always to stay in MXGP. That’s where I’m most motivated to race and where I want to continue improving.
GateDrop: Is it a one-year deal you’ve signed with ZXMOTO? Can you discuss what kind of salary you are on? Probably not (laughs)…
Horgmo: I’d actually like things like salaries to be more public to engage the fans in a different way, but I have to keep mine private (laughs). We’ve reached a fair agreement for both sides, and it’s a one-year deal for 2027.
GateDrop: You’ll have Jacky Martens as the boss – a former world champion! How much did he play on getting you to the team and are you looking forward to working with him?
Horgmo: Jacky was one of the main reasons I gained so much confidence in this project. He has a huge amount of experience, and I’ve heard a lot of positive things about him in the paddock. For me, the structure and organisation of a team are extremely important. The bikes in MXGP are becoming more competitive and closer together, so having the right people behind you can make a massive difference.
Having someone like Jacky leading the project gave me a lot of confidence, and I’m eager to work with him.
GateDrop: You have spent the past three years living in France mainly, you’ll now be based in Lommel in Belgium, how do you feel about that? I feel like it’ll really help with your sand riding!
Horgmo: Yeah, it’ll be nice to have a change. I’ve really enjoyed living in the south of France, but I’ve definitely missed riding in the sand regularly. I used to be a strong sand rider, and I feel like I’ve lost a little of that skill over the past few years. Getting that back is one of my biggest motivations for moving.
Lommel is also where many motocross riders are based, with great training opportunities nearby. Being more central in Europe and closer to the team will be a big advantage. It’s kind of the centre of motocross in Europe.
GateDrop: Being with ZXMOTO kind of means you’ll have to take on a testing role – how do you feel about that? Do you feel comfortable with testing and developing a new bike?
Horgmo: I won’t be responsible for the main development, as there are already other riders involved in that side of the project. But I’m keen to do more testing, try different setups and better understand what works for me. That’s something I’ve been missing over the past few years, as I haven’t always had the opportunity to test as much as I wanted.
I’m motivated to learn the new bike and help improve it throughout the season. From what I’ve seen and heard, we already have a good starting point. We’ll see once I get on the bike.
GateDrop: Any plans for the off-season yet and what races you will do – JM usually do Hawkstone so hopefully see you there!
Horgmo: The first priority is getting my wrist fully healed and getting back on the bike. I’m eager to finally try it.
We haven’t made a detailed off-season plan yet, as most of our discussions have been about reaching an agreement. We’ll work out the testing schedule and pre-season programme over the coming weeks.
GateDrop: Does being with a new brand and new bike change your expectations for next year? What exactly are your goals for 2027?
Horgmo: Obviously it’s a completely new manufacturer, so first I need to get on the bike and see where we’re at. But if the bike is competitive from the first GP, as we expect, I don’t see why my goals should change. I know what I’m capable of, and I’m still very ambitious.
My goal is to consistently fight inside the top 8–10 at the beginning of the season and improve from there. Hopefully, I can challenge for some top-five results on my better weekends. I know it won’t necessarily happen straight away with a new bike, but that’s the level I’m working towards.
